Looking for base or live rock

[SoonerFan51]

I am looking for cheap base or live rock, I am setting up a 58. Not sure exactly what I am gonna put in it, as far as fish and coral go. But I do know that I will need live rock. Please let me know. Thanks -Mark Harris

 

[papagimp]

fwiw, I've used the dry base rock, called "reef bones" or something like that, I ordered mine from that pet place.com but I don't recommend them, I only got half my order, BUT, other places sell the same stuff and it's worked great in my tank, about 50 bucks for 50lbs.

 

[SoonerFan51]

I'll check into it. Thanks for the information.

 

[papagimp]

No problem, and FYI, the reef bones are actually a more shapely rock, i believe their slightly more pricey, maybe $10 or so, and only 40lbs, I actually got the base rock, I think they call it just, Reef Rock, and i believe it's done by CaribSea. I know they also have a "look-alive" rock, just like the reef bones, but has color to it, instead of stark white like what I bought, but it only took a few months and my stuff looks like the rest of the rock in my tank.

 

[SoonerFan51]

doesnt sound too bad at all. I may just have to do that, but if anyone has any live rock around here I would do that first off. thanks

 

[herpchat]

Are there any geologists in the group?

I think any good limestone will work. I know the Stillwater and Perry area have limestone, but anyone seen any type of holey rock sticking out anywhere. I know its common in Texas.

 

[pwhitby]

Hi Gerald,

Limestone can be used, however it is not without its inherent problems. Firstly it is not sufficiently porous to act as a filter. The whole purpose of rock in the tank, apart from aesthetics, is filtration. the rule of thumb of 1.5lbs rock/gal is based on a porous rock. That can be fresh live rock, or old dried out rock...so long as that rock is coralline based.

If you add limestone it can not be included in that rule of thumb. It never becomes live, in the sense of colonized throughout its depth. It will become superficially populated with bacteria, thats all.

AS for collecting rock, I would strongly recommend against it. Chances are its heavily contaminated with metals, especially if it from OK. Its also likely to have been exposed to pesticides and fertilizers. All of those will leach out over time.

Now............if you still have the 1.5lbs/gal of good rock...then adding limestone is fine.......but beware of the issues I mention above.

I understand good rock is expensive. Its not as expensive as replacing corals and being frustrated with hair algae, nitrates and bad health of the live stock.

 

[herpchat]

Well if we are going for porosity then what about the igneous rock sold at stores like Lowes, it is quite porous like basalt.

 

[pwhitby]

Igneous rock is often contaminated with heavy metals.

The problem is not knowing where the rock is from or whats been done to it prior to going into a tank.

The topic of rock selction comes up regularly. The best choices are those that have are "coral" based. There are many types available from dead corals all the way through to fossilized coral, which is what hi-rocks and other types are.

Those rocks, once washed of dirt, are unlikely to leach substances into a tank.

As for porosity.

Igneous rock is porous at the macro-scale. However, the structure of the rock itself is not really porous at the micro-scale. That means the surface structure is vastly reduced. Thats the key issue here, total surface structure. Thats where the biofilm of bacteria will proliferate and that where the filtration/bioremediation of the water will occur.

Paul.

 

[papagimp]

I'd recommend using dry base rock such as CaribSea Reef Rock, and using it as a base rock, then go out and hand pick some nice display type pieces from a good LFS (or mail-order, which ever). I've been more than happy with my results. You get the best of both worlds, save money on the base rock while at the same time getting some nice looking live rock pieces as well.

 

[pwhitby]

there is a rock sold under the name of Feller IStone which is a tufa based rock. It is a great substitute rock. Its actually old coral skeletons.

 

[herpchat]

Where would you find that?

 

[pwhitby]

Ahhhhhhhhhh now thats a good question.

I have no idea.

 

[herpchat]

Well I googled it and this what I got

http://www.fellerstone.com/

I guess I will out some geological maps and look for tufa deposits here in OK as well. I think I remember some out by Noble OK

 

[Radcat]

I was looking at getting this http://cgi.ebay.com/Dry-Rock-50-ree...yZ117437QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Last time I looked at it though it had a buy it now price at around $80.